Childhood Obesity

Obesity

Decreasing the prevalence of obesity among adolescent and young children in Mississippi requires focusing on key issues that address increasing physical activity, nutrition education programs, and risk factors associated with childhood obesity. There is a strong need for more prevention at a very young age, since an obese child will probably become an obese adolescent, and ultimately, an obese adult. However, if overweight/obesity risk factors are already present, then appropriate interventions should be readily available to prevent further weight gain as well as weight-related co-morbidity.